now playing 8-26-04

Interested in a tour of Springfield's west side on a Thursday night? Catch
Harry O (the artist formerly known as Harry Nino) and Oysters Rockefeller
at Mariah's Restaurant, for some early-in-the-evening blues, then slip in a
stop at The Trading Post Saloon for a visit with Antone, singer-songwriter
deluxe and keeper of all your favorite songs.

Do what you must but don't miss Glenn Wilson and his JazzManiacs at Robbie's this Friday evening. From 1977 to 1991, Wilson spent time in New York City playing and recording with prestigious jazz players, including Buddy Rich, Tito Puente, and Mel Lewis. He also blew his distinctive baritone sax in Bruce Hornsby's band. Wilson now resides in Bloomington-Normal and has amassed a superb group of players for regional performances. They don't make it to Springfield often enough, so get 'em while you can.

Help celebrate Steve Gragert's "seventh anniversary of his 30th birthday" (as his bandmates so graciously phrased it) with singer extraordinaire Michelle Denher and Steve's group, the Bare Bones, at Norb Andy's on Friday night. Here's to many more . . .

All aboard for the Ozzy Train as Rod Griffin engineers a return to the station of origin for his Ozzy Osbourne imitation creation. Rod, a California resident for the last few years, has performed his Ozzy at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, with an all-female AC/DC cover band called AC/DSHE in San Francisco, and helped out at many a cancer benefit in honor of his recently deceased father-in-law. "Rozzie" (thanks Denby) rolls the train into the Four Seasons Sports Complex for an outside show with special guests, Ed McCann's Rockhouse, on Saturday.

Mr. Soul, a certain J. Black, man about town and our man on the street, highly recommends that you dear reader, get yo'self to the Trading Post Saloon on Saturday night because the Frank Huston Quartet is hot and on a roll. You want to argue with him? Of course not. Why would you? Because he's right, you know.

Kick in September with a kickin' band when Cross Canadian Ragweed blows into the Riverton Eagles Club on Wednesday. CCR is considered by many credible sources as one of the best bands in the country performing a hybrid of country-rock-acoustic music. It sounds like a familiar breed, but these Oklahoma-bred critters are something special. Also on the bill: the Bleu Edmondson Band, a "country rock with Texas soul" group, and Lyman Ellerman, our area tunesmith hard at work selling songs in Nashville, Tenn.